Jessica attended a nursing program with stellar faculty and great internships. She had always heard, "if you don't document, you will get in trouble". No one could explain what that meant. During her orientation as a new graduate, her preceptor taught her how to document the unit requirements and reassured her that writing much more was a waste of time. Jessica never questioned otherwise. At this time in her career, Jessica was thinking… "I don't worry much about charting; the computer takes care of that. As long as I chart what my unit audits for, I can sleep soundly."

2 years later… Jessica sat down quietly at the deposition table, her head hung low and she hadn't slept in months. They asked her to say and spell her name for the court reporter and she was sworn in. "Do you promise to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth?"

If this could happen to Jessica, it could happen to you. But how did this happen? How did what Jessica charted turn into a deposition proceeding? How does this happen to any good nurse?

Healthcare today is rife with litigation against nurses. There is more accountability, reliability, autonomy, and liability. The rate of nurses becoming part of lawsuits is steadily on the rise. Join Legal Nurse Consultant, Brenda Elliff, for this interesting and intriguing look into nursing documentation. This intense workshop will immerse you into the world of nursing from a litigious viewpoint.

Don't end up like Jessica. Learn how to protect yourself, so you can sleep soundly tonight.

Learner Objectives:

Plan to use factual tactics to stay out of court.

Assess time stamping in your charting for contemporaneous patient accounts.

Explain deposition behaviors that favor your credibility.

Summarize hazards of inconsistent use of drop down boxes.

Distinguish between defense counsel that is for or against you.

Formulate habits that keep your license safe.

Analyze the chart specific to your specialty.

Contrast between poor and exceptional quality charting.

Summarize common charting mistakes and how to avoid them.

Program Outline

Time Stamping - It's a Crucial Variable

Lawyers' secret weapon

What you don't realize

Being ahead of the team

The sneaky truth about timing in litigation

Depositions

Being called to testify

You could be next, seriously

Silently waiting your turn

Preparing for the worst

The alarming facts about nursing and litigation

Technology in the Nurses' World

The medical record is just a machine

Charting by exception - a meaningless phrase

Minimalist charting could spell t-r-o-u-b-l-e

Knowing your gadgets or asking for help

Drop Down Boxes: Avoid the Risks

You could lose credibility

Choosing your options carefully

When your options are absent

What the lawyers interpret from mishaps

Nursing Limits, Expectations & Responsibilities

Your license is your shingle

Copying/Pasting… it's a mistake

Finding the rules and regulations to guide you

Standing your ground, knowing your limits

The Crime Scene

The body speaks for itself

The silent witnesses

Others are also telling the story

The circumstantial evidence

Elements of a lawsuit

Your Worst Fears

Case studies

Actual depositions

Role of the plaintiff

Avoid becoming the defendant

BRENDA ELLIFF, RN, MPA, ONC, CCM, LNCC

Brenda Elliff established Elliff Medical-Legal Services in 1996. As a legal nurse consultant, she assists on both plaintiff and defense cases. She performs record reviews, develops strategies and provides expert witness preparation. Her work involves Medical Malpractice, Worker's Compensation, Personal Injury and a variety of legal cases. Previously, Brenda worked as a Health Care Coordinator for a large law firm and taught a Legal Nurse Consultation review course. Initially, she began working with attorneys on legal cases in California and has now expanded her scope throughout the Pacific NW.

Her clinical nursing experiences are vast and span 40 years. Brenda has worked as a staff nurse, as a nurse manager at major teaching facilities, as nurse case manager and as an adjunct nursing professor.

When not nursing, Brenda enjoys participating with a local performing group. The group has performed at the LA Christmas Parade, 75th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor Parade in Honolulu, and the Washington DC Cherry Blossom Parade. Past nurses who have attended Brenda's programs have appreciated the dynamic and fun way in which she can deliver excellent clinical and legal information. She has been a sought-after speaker at national, state and local levels, on a variety of topics that draw from her areas of expertise.

Recommended Product:

PESI, Inc. is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

Nurses in full attendance will earn 6.3 contact hours. PARTIAL CONTACT HOURS WILL BE AWARDED FOR PARTIAL ATTENDANCE.

OTHER PROFESSIONSThis activity qualifies for 380 minutes of instructional content as required by many national, state and local licensing boards and professional organizations. Save your course outline and certificate of completion, and contact your own board or organization for specific requirements.